After enduring a month of strict lockdown, Metro Manila will shift back to a general community quarantine (GCQ) although it will also serve as the pilot area for the implementation of granular lockdowns starting Sept. 8 until the end of the month.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement on Monday, Sept. 6, or a day before the expiration of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status of the National Capital Region (NCR).
In his press briefing on Monday, Roque announced that Metro Manila will be placed under the more lax GCQ beginning Sept. 8. He also confirmed reports that granular lockdowns will be implemented in the region as a new tact against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Roque said limited dine-in services and religious gatherings will be allowed again in Metro Manila once it shifts to GCQ.
Granular lockdown
However, Roque said details about the granular lockdown were still being finalized and will be announced before Sept. 8.
He explained that it will be the governors and mayors who will decide on the granular lockdowns. The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases can reverse the decision of the local chief executives, he said.
The Palace official explained that the granular lockdown should cover the smallest area as possible.
"The granular lockdown does not have to be an entire barangay. It can be a street, it can be a house, it can be a community. It should be as granular as we can," he said.
According to Roque, the government shifted to granular lockdowns because the number of COVID-19 cases did not seem to go down despite the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)--the strictest quarantine level possible.
"Ang tingin ng mga eksperto, mas epektibo po kung tayo po talaga ay magpapatupad ng systematic at scientific granular lockdowns (Exprets think that the implementation of systematic and granular lockdowns will be more effective)," he said.
Quarantine classifications
Meanwhile, the following areas will be placed under MECQ from Sept. 8 to 30, 2021:
- Apayao
- Bataan
- Bulacan
- Cavite
- Lucena City
- Rizal
- Laguna
- Iloilo Province
- Iloilo City
- Cagayan de Oro City
The following areas will be under GCQ with heightened restrictions:
- Ilocos Sur
- Ilocos Norte
- Cagayan
- Pangasinan
- Quezon
- Batangas
- Naga City
- Antique
- Bacolod City
- Capiz
- Cebu Province
- Lapu-Lapu City
- Negros Oriental
- Zamboanga del Sur
- Misamis Oriental
- Davao City
- Davao del Norte
- Davao de Oro
- Davao Occidental
- Butuan City
Meanwhile, the following will be placed under the regular GCQ:
- NCR
- Baguio City
- Kalinga
- Abra
- Benguet
- Dagupan City
- City of Santiago
- Quirino
- Isabela
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Tarlac
- Occidental Mindoro
- Puerto Princesa
- Aklan
- Guimaras
- Negros Occidental
- Cebu City
- Mandaue City
- Zamboanga Sibugay
- Zamboanga City
- Zamboanga del Norte
- Misamis Occidental
- Ilagan City
- Davao Oriental
- Davao del Sur
- General Santos City
- Sultan Kudarat
- Sarangani
- North Cotabato
- South Cotabato
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte
- Surigao del Sur
- Cotabato City
- Lanao del Sur
Areas not mentioned will be under the modified GCQ (MGCQ).